Fusion IP, the AIM listed university commercial company that turns world class university research into business, is pleased to announce that it has created a new spin-out company, Progenteq, under its exclusive agreement with Cardiff University.
Progenteq, is developing a novel cartilage replacement therapy that has the potential to revolutionise the treatment of acute knee injuries. The company is founded on the work of Professor Charlie Archer’s research group at Cardiff University’s School of Biosciences. Professor Archer is Leader of the Connective Tissue Biology Group, recognised for excellence in tissue engineering and repair research.
The group has successfully isolated a defined population of cells from the articular cartilage which surround the main bones in the knee joint. These cells display stem-cell like properties and can be expanded in the laboratory to produce very large quantities of cartilage. As a result this cell type could provide an ideal source of material for an “allogeneic” cartilage replacement therapy, whereby cells derived from donors can be taken and used to grow a large tissue bank of cartilage that can be stored and is suitable for insertion into patients with acute knee injuries as and when needed. This model promises a more cost-effective cell therapy than current “autologous” approaches, where cells are removed from a patient, expanded and then implanted into the same patient. The successful development of a cartilage cell bank could also pave the way for treatment of degenerative cartilage damage such as that seen in osteoarthritis.
David Baynes, CEO of Fusion IP said:
“Cardiff University continues to produce world class IP. Although this is an early stage project, an allogeneic approach has been described as “the holy grail” of cartilage repair. We believe that Professor Archer’s discovery may be the key and as such it has the potential to revolutionise the way we treat acute knee injuries. The support from the Technology Strategy Board is proving invaluable in catalysing innovation in regenerative medicine in the UK and we look forward to Progenteq taking its first stages towards the clinic.”